Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-09
THE DUDE AND THE DAMSEL
A Scene Mt Glen Island When the
Tide Was High.

1
Tide Was High.
1t was at Glen Island when the tide
was high. He had divested himself
of all that man most loveth in the
way of refined exterior attraction
The gentle incline of three-fold collar
the peaceful, pastoral gray trousers,
the well-cut black cloth coat, and the
pale last fashion in the way of hat, lay
gracefully recumbent in the wooden
dressing room. There he stood
among the thousand ordinary ones,
clad in rudest bathing dress, that clung
to his lamp-post frame with grim tena-
city he condescendingly permitted the
Democratic waters to encircle him,
and looked kindly ateach small wave
let, as much as to say, 81 don't mind
For this occasion only you may treat
we as you will. Wet me, disfgure
me, and / won't complain.
As he seemed to utter these words
to the reckless water, a little 10000
oo" plaintively shrill, yet vigorous
self-assertive, smote his ear. He
turned quickly yet gracefully around,
and there, clinging to- rope, alone
and comely, was the daintiest little
maiden he had e'er beheld.
"Oo-oo-oo!" rang forth again in
clearest clarion tone. Her azure fin
gers clutched at the rope. Then, as
he advanced, '1'm drowning" she
said as serenely and composedly as
though she liked it.
1t was ridiculous to suppose that
she really was drowning, and so it
will be inferred that the refined youth
was ridiculous, for he supposed it.
Calamity went he to the rescue cour-
teously he grasped her azure hand,
and courteously recognized he the
heavenly smile that eradiated her
lovely features.
"Isn't it c-c-cold?" she gasped la
boriously.
"For delicate little girls like you-
yes," he said sweetly.
"Great big-big men like you don't
feel the chill, suppose" she gurgled
mischievOusly, and the foolish lamp
post youth swallowed the compliment
and was elated.
"No," he remarked.
Then she clung to his lean arms,
and he lifted her up and down and
gazed with stapid sentiment at her
dripping, ruddy face each time it ap-
peared on the water. Happy was he
when she playfully asserted he must
not leave hei, and emphatically did
he protest that he hadn't the faintest
intention OF so doing. Then he showed
her how to swim as well as he could,
poor fellow, not knowing how him
self.
"Come in now, Sophie, come in"
shouted voice from the shore. He
looked. There stood two women.
One luxuriously clad in the softest,
glossiest silk, with large solitaire ear
rings and spiciest, loftiest bonnet.
The other, hideous. huge, redhanded,
and vulgar, graced II seersucker robe
and carried a large, coarse, luncheon
basket. Who had called Sophie?
Need he ask? The voice seemed to
issue from the silk clad dame, and he
was satisfied.
"I'm coming" shouted Sophie, and
from the friendly lamp-post,
she climbed out of the sea, and with |
pinkest feet Hushed up the beach to
her room.
Solemnly he left the water and went
to his own room, from which in thirty
he issued in the gentle in
cline Of three-fold collar, the peaceful,
pastoral gray trousers, the well-cut
black cloth coat, and the pale last
fashion in the way of hat. He
lounged about the beach for half an
hour, but he saw her not. He entered
the most expensive restaurant, but no
trace of her was there. In despair
and gloom he wandered into the leafy
grove where the frolicsome luncheon
parties disported themselves.
Six times did he look at the couple |
on bench before he could believe his
eyes. At the end of the sixth time he
beheld his diaphanous nymph, fright
fully clad in cotton dress, sur
by hat in which every
color of the rainbow struggled for
precedence. Beside her was the huge
woman in the seersucker robe, and
between them yawning basket. 1t
was too horrible to believe. He sank
upon a seat. The last words he heard
as he melted into unconsciousness
were uttered by the huge woman, in
thick, oily tones:
waiter, bring me two pork and
beans and two glasses of coffee, and
hurry up about it."-[New York
Times.